Notes come from around Chicago outdoors and beyond.
WILD OF THE WEEK
Jeff Banks found buckeyes on the Nickel Plate Trail near Bunker Hill in Indiana. As the Morton Arboretum notes that while the Ohio buckeye is native to Illinois, the nuts should not be eaten. “Not really edible, more of a good luck charm,” Banks emailed. “Kind of like a rabbit’s foot. My grandfathers, my dad and my father-in-law always carried one in their pocket. It was supposed to be really good luck if you kept it long enough to wear the light spot off!”
WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Sunday. To make submissions, email BowmanOutside@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside), Instagram (@BowmanOutside). or Bluesky (@Bowmanoutside).
CHICAGO FISHING COMMITTEE
Stacey Greene-Fenlon was persuaded to stay on as the chair of the Chicago Fishing Advisory Committee at the Sept. 18 meeting, but meetings will now be held three o four times a year. Tentatively, the next meeting is set for late February
FISH OF THE WEEK
John Krizek messaged about catching and releasing a 63 1/2-inch sturgeon at the Wisconsin Dells Sunday night, on the first night of a week of chasing them there. With 17-pound line, he took an hour to get him to the boat.
FOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, now runs most weeks in the two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Sunday. To make submissions, email BowmanOutside@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside), Instagram (@BowmanOutside). or Bluesky (@Bowmanoutside).
MUSHROOM OF THE WEEK
Moe Perez found this mushroom growing in Humboldt Park, then emailed, “It looked pretty cool. I don’t know what it is.” It’s a chicken of the woods, a prevalent fall mushroom even in a dry year like this.
MOTW, the celebration of mushrooms around Chicago outdoors, runs as apt in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Sunday. To make submissions, email BowmanOutside@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside), Instagram (@BowmanOutside). or Bluesky (@Bowmanoutside)..
WILD TIMES
SHOWTIME
Through Sunday, Sept. 28: Geneva Lake Boat Show, Blackhawk chapter of Antique and Classic Boat Society, The Abbey in Fontana, Wisconsin, https://www.genevalakesboatshow.com/
PHEASANTS FOREVER
Thursday, Oct. 2: DuPage County Sportsman’s Banquet, Abbington Distinctive Banquets, Glen Ellyn, https://events.pheasantsforever.org/events/dupage-county-12th-annual-sportsmans-banquet/4ebe6fec-d2a2-40f4-9561-ab4cba9d4fba
ILLINOIS SEASONS/PERMITS
Tuesday, Sept. 30: Bobcat permit applications end
Wednesday, Oct. 1: Snagging season opens for Chinook and coho salmon at select lakefront sites
Wednesday, Oct. 1: Archery deer and turkey seasons opens
HUNTER SAFETY
Oct. 9 & 11: Palatine, https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/230306
Oct. 11-12:Mokena, https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/234486
The full state listing is at https://www.register-ed.com/programs/illinois